Miniature rose plant named `POULanit`

ABSTRACT

A new miniature rose plant which has abundant, non-fading, dark red flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety ofminiature rose plant which originated from a controlled crossing betweenan unnamed seedling and an unnamed seedling. The two parents werecrossed and the resulting seeds were planted in a controlledenvironment. The new variety is named `POULanit`.

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamedseedling, by the following combination of characteristics:

1. The unnamed seedling has a breeding background of `POULvic`, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 8,012, granted Oct. 27, 1994; and `RUImired`, U.S. PlantPat. No. 5,770, granted Jul. 22, 1986; and `MEIrutral`, U.S. Plant Pat.No. 7,021, granted Sep. 12, 1989.

2. `POULanit` has large double flowers, while the unnamed seedlings hassmall flowers.

3. `POULanit` has dark red blooms, while the `unnamed seedling` hasclear red blooms, with a lighter color on the reverse side of thepetals.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamedseedling created by the same inventors, by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

1. The unnamed seedling is an offspring of `POULvic`, `POULcar` U.S.Plant Pat. No. 7,999, granted Oct. 13, 1999, and `MEIrutral`.

2. `POULanit` has larger flowers and foliage as compared to the unnamedseedling.

3. The flower color of `POULanit` is a deeper red than the unnamedseedling flower color.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercialgreenhouse culture was to create a new and distinct variety with uniquequalities, such as:

1. Uniform and abundant flowers;

2. Vigorous and compact growth;

3. Year-round flowering under glasshouse conditions;

4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;

5. Durable flowers and foliage which make a variety suitable fordistribution in the floral industry.

As part of this rose development program, L. Pernille Olesen and MogensN. Olesen germinated the seeds from the aforementioned hybridization andconducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlledenvironment in Fredensborg, Denmark.

`POULanit` was selected by the inventors as a single plant from theprogeny of the hybridization in March, 1994.

Asexual reproduction of `POULanit` by cuttings and traditional buddingwas first done by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen in their nursery inFredensborg, Denmark in June, 1994. This initial and other subsequentpropagations conducted in controlled environments have demonstrated thatthe characteristics of `POULanit` are true to type and are transmittedfrom one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, stems, and a plant of`POULanit`. Specifically illustrated in SHEET 1:

1. Stem or entire plant showing branching and the attachment of leaves,buds, and peduncles;

2. Flower bud, partially opened bud, and open bloom;

3. Flower petals, detached;

4. Sepals, receptacle, and pedicel;

5. Flowering stem as well as a bare stem exhibiting thorns;

6. Leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of `POULanit`, as observed in its growthin glasshouses in Fredensborg, Denmark; Burlington, Canada; and in afield nursery in Applegate, Jackson County, Oreg. Color references aremade using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) ColourChart, 1995, except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, the nearest existing rose variety is `POULobe`, a rosevariety by the same inventors described and illustrated in U.S. PlantPat. No. 10,728, granted Dec. 22, 1998. Chart 1 details several physicalcharacteristics of `POULanit` and `POULobe`.

                  CHART 1                                                         ______________________________________                                                  `POULanit`  `POULobe`                                               ______________________________________                                        Petal color,                                                                              Red Group 46B Red Group 44A                                       upper surface                                                                 Petal color,                                                                              Red-Purple Group                                                                            Red Group 53C                                       reverse          61C                                                          surface                                                                       Petal count 20-30 petals  35-40 petals                                        ______________________________________                                    

Parents: Unnamed seedling×Unnamed seedling.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrida.

Commercial.--Miniature.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

Blooming habit: Recurrent.

Flower bud:

Size.--Upon opening, 18 mm-22 mm in length from base of receptacle toend of bud.

Bud form.--Ovoid to globular.

Bud color.--At 1/4 opening, Red Group 53A to Red-Purple Group 61B.

Sepals.--Green Group 137C to 143A. Foliaceous appendages on three of thefive sepals. Surfaces of other sepals slightly pubescent. All sepalswith stipitate glands on exterior surface.

Receptacle.--Surface: Smooth, glabrous. Shape: Funnel-shaped. Size:Small to medium. 5 mm (h)×5 mm (w). Color: Green Group 143B

Peduncle.--Surface: With stipitate glands. Length: 25-40 mm averagelength. Color: Green Group 143B Strength: Upright.

Borne.--Generally with 1-3 buds per flowering stem.

Flower bloom:

Size.--Medium for a 13 cm pot rose. Average flower diameter is 45-55 mmwhen open.

Form.--Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Upon opening, upperpart: Convex. Upon opening, lower part: Convex. Open flower, upper part:Flat to cupped. Open flower, lower part: Flat.

Petalage.--Average range: 20-30 under normal conditions.

Color:

Petals, upon opening.--Upper Surface: Red Group 46A-53A. ReverseSurface: Red-Purple 58A-61B.

Petals after opening.--Upper Surface: Red Group 46B. Reverse Surface:Red-Purple Group 61C.

Basal Petal spots: Small to average. Color uniform throughout opening.

Petals.--Outer side: Yellow Group 13C-13D. Inner Side: Yellow Group 13B.

General Tonality: On open flower Red Group 46A. No change in the generaltonality at the end of the third day. Afterwards, general tonality isRed Group 46B.

Petals:

Petal reflex.--Generally straight. Outermost petals reflex backwardsslightly only after bloom completely open.

Petal edge.--Uniform.

Petaloids.--Commonly none.

Fragrance.--Light floral scent.

Duration.--As a pot plant, flowers last from 8 to 12 days. As a cutflower 7 to 9 days.

Thickness.--Average.

Shape.--Round.

Form.--Flat to cupped.

Arrangement.--Regular.

Other.--Some petals exhibit variegations of White Group 155B.

Reproductive organs:

Pollen.--Color: Yellow Group 22A. Abundance: Average.

Anthers.--Size: Medium. Color: Yellow-Orange Group 14C. Abundance.Average.

Filaments.--Color: Yellow Group 1C.

Stigmas.--Superior in location to anthers. Color: Yellow Group 1C.

Styles.--Color: Yellow Group 1C.

PLANT

Plant growth: Vigorous, compact, upright to bushy. When grown as a 13 cmpot plant, the average height of the plant itself is 18 to 22 cm and theaverage width is 18 to 20 cm. When grown as a nursery plant (on its ownroots) the average plant height is 50-60 cm and the average plant widthis 50 cm.

Stems:

Color.--Young wood: Green Group 138A. Older wood: Green Group 138B.

Thorns.--Incidence: Moderate number of thorns. Size: Short, averagelength: 3-4 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 145D. Shape: Hooked downwards.

Surface.--Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.

Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets on normal leaves in middle ofthe stem: 5-7 leaflets.

Leaf size.--Medium. 75-90 mm (l)×55-65 mm (w).

Abundance.--Average.

Color.--Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A-Yellow-Green Group 147A.Lower Leaf Surface: Green Group 138A-138B. Juvenile foliage:Yellow-GreenGroup 144A with intonations on margins and underside of leaflets ofGreyed-Red Group 179A.

Plant leaves and leaflets:

Stipules.--Present. Size: 6 mm-8 mm. Color: Green Group 137A. Presenceof hairs: Stipitate glands underneath.

Petiole.--Length: 12 mm-15 mm. Color: Green Group 138A. Margins: Withstipitate glands. Prickles: Limited.

Rachis.--Color: Green Group 138A. Underneath: With prickles. Margins:Margins with stipitate glands. Prickles: Limited.

Leaflet Edge: Serrated.

Leaflet Shape: Ovate.

Other.--Semi-glossy finish. Average thickness.

Disease resistance: Above average resistance to mildew and Botrytisunder normal growing conditions in Burlington, Canada, Applegate, Oreg.,and Fredensborg, Denmark.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the miniatureclass, substantially as herein illustrated and described as a distinctand novel rose variety due to its abundant, dark red flowers, vigorousand compact growth, year round flowering under glasshouse conditions,suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots, and durableflowers and foliage which make the variety suitable for distribution in